Overview & Reviews
A proper sports car for the everyman. If we had just one sentence to describe the Nissan 350Z, that'd be it. While there have always been plenty of unobtainable sports cars out there to drool over, the 350Z's relatively compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive, two seats, muscular engine and sharp handling came at a price that real people could actually afford.
The Nissan 350Z represented the fifth generation of "Z" sports cars from this Japanese manufacturer. At its debut in 2003, the 350Z represented a key component of Nissan's rebirth in the North American market. For much of the late '90s and early new millennium, Nissan's lineup was full of lackluster cars. The Z brought back the company's spirit of fun and performance that had been missing ever since the discontinuation of the previous 300ZX.
The 350Z coupe was replaced by the 370Z coupe for 2009, while the 350Z roadster lived on before following suit the following year. In coupe or drop-top form, the 350Z was quite popular so finding a nice example on the used car market should be relatively easy. That said, keen shoppers will want to pay close attention to the car's changes and updates that were made through the years.
Most Recent Nissan 350Z
The 350Z sports car bowed in 2003 as an all-new model and was produced until 2008 (coupe) and 2009 (roadster). The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not debut until the following year. Initially, the coupe came in base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track versions, while the roadster was limited to Enthusiast and Touring trim levels. The Track trim came with lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes, but its suspension tuning was the same as all other coupes.
In these early years, the V6 produced 287 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The Track model had the manual only. Changes were minimal in the first few years, though Nissan did release a 350Z 35th-anniversary edition in '05. This manual-transmission model produced 300 hp (but less torque) and came in three exclusive colors.
For '06, Nissan included the Anniversary Edition's 300-hp V6 for all manual-equipped cars. There were a host of other changes as well, including mildly updated styling, speed-sensitive steering, larger brakes for non-Brembo-equipped models, a higher-quality interior, more standard features and a newly available navigation system. The Performance trim level was dropped. This was also the first year for the Grand Touring trim level, which was similar to the Touring but had the Track's Brembo brakes and wheels.
For '07, Nissan fully updated the V6 for all 350Zs and it made a potent 306 hp. The Track trim level was dropped, but in its place came the coupe-only Nismo 350Z model. The Nismo model dropped many luxuries in favor of performance-enhancing upgrades, such as a stiffened, seam-welded chassis, firmer springs and shock absorbers, special wheels and various aerodynamic upgrades. Inside, each Nismo 350Z had red and black cloth seats, a gray-faced tachometer and a number plaque indicating its build order in the production run. Nismo models were also produced for the coupe's last year in 2008; the following year brought the all-new 370Z coupe. For '09, the roadster carried the 350Z flag; the following year it was replaced by the all-new 370Z roadster.
In reviews, we found the Nissan 350Z to be an engaging sports car to drive hard. The V6 pulled strongly when revved past 3,000 rpm and generated one of the most distinctive engine and exhaust-note soundtracks available (something its successor lacks). The 350Z's ability to provide serious grip through corners made it a favorite of our enthusiast editors. At the limit, the car's handling could be a bit tricky, so steady hands were required.
When employed on a daily basis, the Nissan 350Z didn't make for such a compelling companion. Road and tire noise were considerable, and the car's stiff suspension transmitted plenty of shock to its occupants when driven on rough pavement. Inside, the Z's cabin was functional but decidedly stark. Some of the interior trim was of low quality, and the luggage capacity of the roadster was compromised, even for this class of car.
Considering the 350Z's gradual improvements in features and hardware over the years, consumers interested in a used Nissan 350Z should generally try to purchase the newest year possible. Notable options to look for would be side airbags (they were optional on the coupe and not always standard on the roadster) and stability control (which came on Touring coupes as well as Grand Touring and Track trim levels).
User Reviews:
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Sorry to rain on the parade - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By JRMOakland - April 9 - 10:00 amSorry to rain on the parade but this car is a pain. Its incredibly space inefficient - my CRX was a much smaller car but had much more interior room. The materials are cheap, and Im aready having electrical problems w/alarm and windows after only a couple months. The ride is jarring and nervous. The ungulations on uneven roads are almost enough to make you hurl. My dealer experience was frustrating, despite having checkbook in hand, and purchase required returning the car to the dealer multiple times to resolve problems.
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WoooooooooooooHoooooooooooo! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By Dale - April 8 - 3:20 pmFun to drive and powerful. Excellent quality and great lines. Tested the BMW Z4, Mazda Miata, Honda S2000 and Mercedes SLK 280. The 350Z looked and felt better to drive than the others. Great buy for the money and it turns heads.
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Z Car - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By Ned Paul - March 28 - 10:00 amIve owned them all including Corvette,Mercedes,BMW, nothing comes close for the money.
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Awesome - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Likechatting - March 28 - 10:00 amI absolutely love the attention I get when driving this car......it is HOT!!
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2005 350Z Touring hatchback 5A - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By My first Nissan - March 27 - 5:13 pmsupposed when the door is open, the windows will slide down about half inch and the interior light will be on. However one month after I bought the car, the drivers side window failed to operate as described above. Gas mileage is poor. I paid $500 over invoice from the Long Beach dealer.
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Buyer Beware... - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By DLM_So Cal - March 20 - 5:13 pmIve read just about every post on the Nissan 350Z out here and have concluded that if indeed you are in the market for a sports car like this you should check out some of the user sites. There you will find car owners who have been thrilled or anything but impressed with the car. I owned a 350Z and was thrilled to get rid of it. Within eight thousand miles it needed new front tires. At eightteen thousand miles I brought new brakes and rotors. From the grease smears on the windows to the leather seats showing wear within four months. Nissan really has some problems to solve. The Bose system is anything but impressive, if you dont believe me, ask the people at Bose. I was disapointed Nissan lost my business.
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2003 Nissan 350Z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
By an1ny - March 8 - 2:00 amI love my Red 350Z. An affordable car that looks,feels,and drives like a sports car.
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It cant be stopped - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Big Jeffry - March 8 - 2:00 amThe car drives like a magic carpet with 289 horses. And it so stable you would think it was a tank.
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Buy it!! - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By G. Holder - March 8 - 1:43 amBest sports car Ive ever owned. Fun to drive, fast, quite the head turner.
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My Z gets An A - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By dkramrog - March 6 - 8:46 pmDriving my new 350Z Roadster has restored a sense of youthful "joy of the road" to my middle-aged heart. This car is quick, responsive and eye- catchingly beautiful. But simultaneously, it gives me the sense of reliablity and safety that I require. Sure, there are minor flaws-- the interior design doesnt match the exterior elegance, the headlights dont come on automatically as darkness falls, although the dash lights do. But all in all, this is an exciting and responsive way to get around.
